Essie Jewel Maclin was born on September 13, 1926 to the union of Roosevelt and Arminter (Morris) Maclin. The oldest girl and fourth born of eight, Essie was a natural competitor. She took pride in being able to contend with her brothers, while exemplifying the essence of a strong Black woman for her sisters.

She received her formal education at St. Matthew School in Stanton, TN.

Essie committed her life to Christ at St. Matthew Church in Stanton, TN at an early age. In the mid-1970s, after heeding the call of the Apostolic doctrine, she joined Mt. Zion Assembly Healing Temple in Milwaukee, Wis. where she dutifully worked to serve the Lord. She served a lead usher, was a member of the Zion Sisters and was a dedicated member of the pastor’s aide for over 20 years. She wholeheartedly believed in service and lived out the adage “whatever your hands find to do then you should do it.”

Essie Jewel Maclin was united in holy matrimony with David Lee Maclin on August 3, 1946 in Stanton, TN. For 35 years, David and Essie shared a strong bond of love and dedication, as evidenced through Essie’s devotion of caring for David until his death in 1981. A committed and dedicated couple to their six children, David and Essie strived for excellence. In fact, they relocated from Tennessee to Wisconsin in 1950 in pursuit for a better life for their growing family. The couple instilled the highest morals and values into their children, stressing education, superior work ethics, accountability and respect for self and others above all.

From her work as a domestic to her long 26-year career as an X-ray aide at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Essie, a natural leader and nurturer of others, took every experience and opportunity to help and encourage someone else. She truly lived her life with the power of love as her guiding force.

Essie cherished her children and grandchildren; they were her life. She enjoyed cooking for her family, shopping, watching wrestling and reading her Bible. With her sassy attitude and infectious smile, Essie used her wit to tell you “her” truth to help you see the light. She would always say “you can’t say I never told you.” Many people spent countless hours on her porch or sitting in her living room reaping Essie’s pearls of wisdom.

Surrounded by several grandchildren singing her favorite praise songs, Essie Jewel Maclin peacefully departed this life on February 13, 2013. She was preceded in death by her husband David Lee Maclin; her son David E. Maclin; and grandson Terence D. Maclin; her parents, seven brothers and one sister.

She leaves to cherish her memories her children: Annie Louise (Conroy) Miskel; Paulette, Ronald, Victor (Lenora) Maclin and Jacqueline Cook; daughter-in-law Juanita Maclin; one sister Francis Helen (Clyde) Gee and brother-in-law Nathaniel Johnson. Carrying on her legacy are her beloved 34 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren and 8 great-great grandchildren. She will be sorely missed by her nieces, nephews, family and friends.

New provisions will help small businesses compete for more federal contracts

by C. Daniel Baker, BlackEnterprise.com

On Tuesday President Obama signed a series of provisions to help small businesses compete for more federal contracts. Of note in this law is the provision that requires small business contracting performance to be part of the employee review for senior agency officials. This review factors into their consideration for bonuses and promotions.

Officials felt this change was necessary after it was revealed that the federal government missed its stated small business contracting goal for the eleventh straight year in 2012. Previously, harsher penalties had been suggested such as reducing budgets for agencies that fell short of the annual goals.

“The small business provisions will help make sure existing small business goals are actually met, empower small business advocates, and crack down on fraud,” Rep. Sam Graves said in a statement. He added the bill would “help small businesses compete in the federal marketplace, bring efficiency and cost-savings to the taxpayer, and create jobs while doing it.”

Small contractors face a multitude of challenges when competing against larger companies for contracts and officials hope these steps will help level the playing field. While small businesses were a hot topic in the recent election, with both candidates promising to champion their needs, many owners hope this was not just lip service.

“Everyone loved small businesses, but when you looked at what was actually being done to help them get contracts, there was nothing. This is a step in the right direction,” says Margot Dorfman, VP of the National Association of Small Business Contractors. “There has to be a true commitment to doing businesses with small businesses.”

Madison, WI (WTAQ) – Wisconsin’s largest city wants to join a lawsuit which claims that the state’s collective bargaining and public employee benefit law is unconstitutional.

Milwaukee City Attorney Grant Langley has asked a state appeals court in Madison to let the city join the Madison teachers’ union and a Milwaukee city employee union as plaintiffs.

Langley says the union law violates the state Constitution’s home rule powers, by not letting the city pay anything toward its employees’ pension contributions. Also, Langley says the law violates constitutional bans on creating impairments to employee contracts.

Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas has struck down the state’s union law as it applies to local government and public school employees.

But Milwaukee officials say the law can still be brought back, because the state is appealing the judge’s decision.